Hansard

I start by thanking Clare Adamson for bringing the debate to the chamber. I did not know much about the subject until I looked into it a wee bit more, but she made a truly emotional, personal and brave contribution, and I wish her, her family and her son Aidan well.

CRPS is an uncommon neurological disorder. It plagues those who have it with chronic pain that is felt mostly in the limbs, although it can affect the whole body. It is believed that 16,000 people across the UK suffer from the condition, which is poorly understood despite having been medically recognised in some form for more than 150 years.

Notably, the condition can affect anyone, regardless of their age. As we have heard, it can be brought on by an accident or an injury. According to NHS Scotland, CRPS often improves incrementally over time in some people; however, in others, the pain lasts for years. Often, that pain can be intense and debilitating, affecting everything from motor functions to the overall quality of someone’s life.

Because of our limited understanding of the complexity that surrounds CRPS, treatment requires a multidisciplinary plan. According to NHS Scotland, there are four main types of treatment option, which, typically, involve multiple physicians because of CRPS’s complexity: psychological support; pain relief; physical rehabilitation; and self-education and management. Although they do not offer a complete solution, the treatments that are available today offer some relief, as the understanding of and research into CRPS continue to improve.

Raising awareness of CRPS is key to better understanding the disorder and improving the quality of life for the people whom it plagues. As is set out by Burning Nights, individuals who live with CRPS should follow the guidelines of the Royal College of Physicians.

As we have heard, November each year is CRPS awareness month, which the Scottish Parliament has celebrated for years. Likewise, there is no better place to help to shed light on the disorder than here at the Scottish Parliament.

Apart from helping to raise awareness, I also take the opportunity to highlight the wonderful work that is done by volunteers and people working across Scotland in service of this cause, including groups such as Burning Nights and CRPS UK. I thank them for the invaluable work that they do to offer community-oriented support. These groups provide education and empathetic spaces, and they put patients at the heart of everything that they do. Not only are patients behind their work, but the groups are also actively led by patients, along with care givers. That approach allows for those who suffer from CRPS to improve their own lives and those of others from a position of first-hand experience.

CRPS is poorly understood, and many people are not even aware that the disorder exists. Despite that, treatment and support have been able to make a positive difference for some sufferers. Keeping individuals with the disorder at the heart of treatment is crucial to any conversation that is had on the topic. Patient-led consultations and community spaces are central to treatment approaches and to increasing CRPS awareness among the public.

Once again, I take the opportunity to thank Clare Adamson for bringing the issue to the chamber.